Ascorbic Acid: Vitamin C Royalty

Out of the many beneficial forms of vitamin C, ascorbic acid is a superstar for its proven antioxidant properties that boost firmer-feeling skin. This powerhouse ingredient is backed by research for dramatically brightening and evening skin tone.

Meet Your Anti-Aging Superstars

BOOST

C15 Super Booster

Visibly Firms, Brightens and Refreshes Skin.

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BOOST

C25 Super Booster

Targets the appearance of stubborn spots and wrinkles.

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When to Use Vitamin C in Your Skin Care Routine?

Can be used morning and night.

Dive Deeper

Vitamin C has a unique status—skin care experts around the world consider it an anti-aging superstar. At Paula’s Choice Skincare, we follow the latest research on vitamin C, and are excited to share how you can incorporate this powerhouse antioxidant ingredient into your skin care routine, no matter your skin type or anti-aging concern.

Vitamin C for Anti-Aging & Brighter Skin

There are many forms of vitamin C, and many of them are great for skin—we’ll get to which types work best shortly. They all have potent antioxidant and anti-aging benefits that help mitigate problems both before and after they occur.

Ascorbic Acid is Vitamin C Royalty

Ascorbic acid—also known as L-ascorbic acid—has the most skin-related research of any form of vitamin C. For that reason, it’s the form of vitamin C we use most often in our Paula’s Choice Skincare products.

There’s more: Ascorbic acid is a powerhouse when mixed with other antioxidants. That approach is the fundamental philosophy here at Paula’s Choice Skincare. One ingredient, no matter how amazing, is never enough to take the best care of your skin.

Higher Concentrations of Vitamin C Can Work Wonders

Our C25 Super Booster can be used over problem areas and our C15 Super Booster can be used all over to refresh, visibly firm, and renew skin, with noticeable results that improve the look of skin imperfections.

While we love our high concentration vitamin C products, those with lower concentrations also provide stunning results. The higher strengths have benefits for specific concerns, but the lower strengths in some of our moisturizers, toners, and serums also help replenish skin in significant ways, and work beautifully with other beneficial ingredients such as retinol and niacinamide.

Research has shown that vitamin C concentrations as low as 0.6% provide antioxidant and anti-aging benefits to skin. So, depending on your concerns, you may do just fine with a regular-strength vitamin C product to smooth, brighten, and replenish skin—especially if the form of vitamin C is one we discuss in the next section.

Keep in mind that all antioxidants, including pure vitamin C and its more stable variations, remain vulnerable, and will break down if routinely exposed to air and light. That means if you want to get the best possible results from your antioxidant-enriched skin care products, then buy only those that are packaged in opaque tubes, air-restrictive bottles, or pump containers so the ingredients remain stable after you start using the product! A vitamin C product in a jar isn’t a good purchase!

The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here: The same type of in-depth scientific research used to create this article is also used to formulate Paula’s Choice Skincare products. You’ll find products for all skin types and a range of concerns, from acne and sensitive skin to wrinkles, pores, and sun damage. With Paula’s Choice Skincare, you can get (and keep) the best skin of your life! See Paula's Choice Vitamin C products.

References for This Information

Drug Research, October 2016, ePublicationJournal of the America Academy of Dermatology, November 2012, pages 1103–1024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, January 2012, pages 51–56AAPS PharmSciTech, September 2011, pages 917–923Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, August 2009, pages 130–135Skin Research and Technology, August 2008, pages 376–380Dermatologic Surgery, July 2005, pages 814–817

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About the Experts

Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!